XV. Account of the Effects of Lightning on Board the Atlas. By Allen Cooper, Efq. Mafier of the Atlas East India-man. In a Letter to Joseph Banks, Esq. P. R. S. Read January 19, 1779. DEAR SIR, A Mother-Park, S I am defirous of acquainting you with every ob servation made either by my friend Dr. LIND or myself during the voyage, I cannot help troubling you with an account of the melancholy effects of the lightning on board my fhip the Atlas on the 31st of Dec. 1778. The morning and forenoon of that day were clear and cold, with a strong dry wind from the N.W. which by Dr. LIND'S wind-gage generally sustained a column of water of two inches, and was fo high as to prevent boats coming off to the fhip. At 3 P.M. a fquall from the N.N.W. came with,a violence fcarcely credible, attended with very heavy rain, large hail, and the most severe lightning, which struck our main-mast-head, defcended down the maft or its rigging, and entered the gun-deck fomewhere nigh the main hatchway. Thofe (a) A force equal to lb. 10,4. who were employed in letting down the sheet cable (as we had then brought both our anchors a-head) received very fmart fhocks, and were witneffes to the fire going out at several parts of the ship, and to an explosion equal to that of a well-charged cannon, accompanied with a most fulphureous smell which lasted all that day and night. It was not till the fquall abated that our attention was called to the masts, when we saw one of our best seamen hanging by his feet in the main catharpins ftruck dead; another in the main-top was fo miferably scorched as to remain senseless, and now continues in a dangerous way. The boatswain's mate, who was nigh him, had his arm fo much hurt by the shock he received, as not to recover the use of it for half an hour. All poffible means were used to fave the poor fellow who had received the fatal stroke; but there appeared no signs of returning life in him. His face was quite livid; and from the livid colour of the fcorched places it appeared the lightning had entered his head, come out again on the left fide of his neck, and spread itself down his left fide and over his legs. The other man was ftruck down in the main-top, his back much scorched, and on the inside of his right leg the stocking burst open a little below the knee. I have fent the cloaths of the man who fuffered, as alfo the stocking of the other man. Our top-gallant-mafts, at * Y VOL. LXIX. the the time they were ftruck, had no iron work upon them. Upon a careful examination, no visible track of the lightning could be found upon the masts, or any part over which it had paffed, nor was any damage done to the ship, mafts, or rigging. (b) On account of the feafon of the year, in which lightning is fo extremely unusual, it had not been thought neceffary to fix the conductor. XVI. Extracts of Three Letters from John Longfield, M.D. at Corke in Ireland, to the Aftronomer Royal, containing fome Aftronomical Obfervations; together with the Longitude of Corke, deduced from the faid Observations, by the Aftronomer Royal. Read February 11, 1779. SIR, Corke, Oct. 1, 1773. NCOURAGED by Mr. WALSH, with whom I have EN the pleasure of being acquainted, and who has favoured me with a letter to you; and being confident of your inclination to promote Geography and Aftronomy; I trouble you with a few observations, and request your advice and affistance in the prosecution of my favourite ftudy. Laft year I built a very folid and commodious, though fmall obfervatory, close to my house. The top of one of the hills which furround this city would have been a more eligible fituation; but as my profeffion confines me to the town I had no choice. To make up its deficiency in height, I have adapted the upper part of my house to the fame purpose, which serves very well for inftruments that do not require great folidity: From hence I have a very extensive view all round. In the observatory is a folid pier, funk deep in the ground, on the top of which stands the tranfit inftrument. It is of tin, three feet and a half long, and made by Mr. MONK. The other inftru-ments I have are the following: An equal altitude inftrument. A quadrant of one foot radius, by Mr. BIRD.. Another of two feet and a half radius, of the French: construction, not a bad one with regard to the divisions,.. but inconvenient. An excellent telescope, with a treble object-glass, by Mr. DOLLOND. It magnifies about 140 times, and is of the latest improvement. A parallactic inftrument, with a common telescope five feet long, and a reticule rhomboide.. Two aftronomical clocks, with wooden pendulums, one of which goes full as well as Mr. WOOLLASTON'S. The alterations in their going seem to be owing to moifture. I conftantly compare them with SMEATON's hygrometer. With the affistance of a particular friend, who is an excellent mathematician and a very good obferver [Mr. ELIAS MAINADUC], I have taken a great number of meridian |